CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Corner House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People and relatives said they felt safe. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough staff, robust recruitment checks and safe medicine management.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and received regular supervision. People were supported with healthcare, nutrition, oral health and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Staff respected privacy, dignity, equality and people's individual communication needs.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's routines, preferences, strengths and independence. People were supported with activities, family relationships and communication, and complaints were managed effectively.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive, person-centred culture. Quality checks covered medicines, care plans, finances and care delivery, with actions shared with staff.
What inspectors found, December 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was a planned inspection on 17 November 2019. One inspector reviewed care, medicine and management records, spoke with three people, two relatives and three staff, and gathered information from other professionals.
The home supported three people, with capacity for three. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicine systems, trained staff and clear risk assessments. People were supported to make choices, stay healthy and take part in activities.
Inspectors found staff to be kind and respectful. Care plans were personalised and complaints were handled effectively. The service was rated Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection, published on 12 May 2017.
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's preferences, routines, strengths and areas of independence. Staff could explain how they supported each person in an individual way.
“People's care plans detailed their preference for how they would like to be supported with their personal care.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives said staff were kind and caring. Inspectors also observed respectful support that protected people's privacy and dignity.
“We observed staff interacting with people and found they were supportive, kind and caring.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained and assessed as competent to handle medicines. Records showed medicines were stored, given and disposed of safely.
“Medication administration records (MAR) were accurately completed and showed people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People were supported to take part in a range of activities and to maintain family relationships. These included outings, sports, swimming and creative activities.
“These included activities such as arts and crafts, days out, bowling, meals out, swimming and attending live sports events.” from the report
Quality checks
The manager and provider carried out checks on key areas of the service. Issues found through audits were shared with managers and staff.
“Effective quality assurance checks were carried out by the registered manager as well as the provider.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and update my relative's risk assessments if their health or behaviour changes?
- 02How will you support my relative's communication needs and involve them in decisions about their care?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be suitable for my relative?
- 04How will you keep staffing consistent and ensure staff know my relative's needs?
- 05How are medicines, care plans and finances checked, and how are any problems put right?
This was a planned inspection of the care home covering all five key questions, including the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 December 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, May 2017
The Corner House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with only minor improvements noted.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 18 April 2017. One inspector spoke with all three people living at the home, staff and health and social care professionals. They observed care and checked care records, medicines, staff records, safety checks and quality audits.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practices, suitable training and good support for people's health and behaviour needs.
People had positive relationships with staff and were treated with respect. They were involved in their care, meals, activities and decisions. The home had stayed Good since the previous inspection in November 2014.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs safely, including the additional support needed when people went into the community.
“There were enough staff to keep people safe and meet their needs at all times.” from the report
Kind relationships
Staff knew people's histories, preferences and communication methods. Inspectors saw friendly and caring interactions.
“We observed that staff and people had developed strong and meaningful relationships, and staff were able to tell us about people's backgrounds, preferences and interests.” from the report
Personalised support
People were helped to develop daily living and personal care skills, while receiving support matched to their needs.
“People received care that was personalised to their needs.” from the report
Good leadership
The home had regular audits, organised records and systems for learning from people's views and incidents.
“There was an established system of quality monitoring that ensured people received good quality care and support.” from the report
Anonymous whistleblowing
minorStaff understood the whistleblowing process but did not understand that concerns could be raised anonymously. The manager said this would be discussed again.
“Staff were able to explain how the whistleblowing procedures offered protection to people but did not understand that they could raise concerns anonymously.” from the report
Accessible information
minorSome care information was available in accessible formats, but the manager identified that this needed to be expanded further.
“Some effort had been made to provide care documentation in accessible formats.” from the report
- 01What accessible formats are available for each person's care information, and what further changes are planned?
- 02How are staff taught that whistleblowing concerns can be raised anonymously?
- 03How do you check that behaviour support plans remain suitable when people's needs or behaviours change?
- 04How do you make sure there are enough appropriately skilled staff when people go out into the community?
- 05How are people's views from monthly meetings used to change their care, activities or daily routines?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, and all five ratings were Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 May 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of The Corner House
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 January 2014.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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28 live-in carers within about an hour of West Sussex
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,170 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.